Maine DUI Laws

Maine, like most states, has what is referred to as an implied consent law. When you obtain a Maine driver’s license, you are agreeing to submit yourself to a breath, blood, or urine test to determine if you are driving under the influence (DUI). Refusal to be tested can result in penalties such as the mandatory loss of your license for six months. It also puts you in the aggravated category which will increase the penalties. You can be arrested even if you don’t show obvious signs of intoxication and convicted of a DUI in Maine without the chemical tests. The influence can be drugs, alcohol, or a combination of the two which includes inhalants. Maine takes DUI offenses very seriously. These penalties will include the jail time, suspended license and the ignition interlock device (IID) installed on your vehicle, assessments, fees, and fines of $500.00 to $1,000.00. There is a zero tolerance policy in place for under age drinkers with the drinking age set at 21.

It is considered a crime in Maine to operate a vehicle with a Blood Alcohol Content (BAC) of 0.08% or higher. In the state of Maine, you will automatically loose your license until you have appeared before a judge with no chance of reinstatement and serve jail time. Sentences are more severe for persons found to have a BAC of 0.15% or more. The “Per Se” BAC does not need any other proof of intoxication other than the 0.08% level for you to be convicted. The enhanced penalties applied to individuals with 0.15 to 0.20% will include more jail time, harsher fines, and driver’s license sanctions.

Maine law states that drivers under 21 may not be 0.02% or more but with the zero tolerance policy in place for under age drivers, the real level is anything over 0.0%. This can be reached with a dose of over the counter cough medicine. You will loose your license for one year in this case. DUI’s will be issued to 18 year olds or younger individuals with a measurable BAC of .01%, persons over 21 with a BAC of 0.08% and commercial drivers with a BAC of 0.04% or more.



The first conviction will result in 30 days of jail time and $500.00 in fines. Your license will also be suspended for 90 days. The second offense will result in 6 months of jail time, and a license suspension of 3 years. You may be allowed to get your license back after serving 9 months of your suspension if you install the Ignition Interlock Device on your vehicle at your own expense. Your fines will go up to $1,000.00.

The third offence will result in 9 months and one day of jail time, fines of $1,000. Your license will be suspended for 6 years. You may be able to get your license back after you have served three years of your suspension again with the installation of the IID.

The fourth offense will result in 2 years of jail time and a fine of $1,000.00 minimum. Your license will be suspended for 6 years with no chance of getting it returned until you have served all of the time. After the 6 years, you will get your license back when you install the IID on your vehicle at your own expense.